[Effect of smoking cigarets, age and underground working time on lung function in the Bogdanka (lublin Basin) coal...

The purpose of the present study was to examine simultaneous effects of age, smoking and dust exposure on pulmonary functional parameters in coal miners population, working underground in the Bogdanka colliery. The study population consisted of 1456 coal miners. Total airway resistance and intrathoracic gas volume were measured by body plethysmography. Spirometric and flow volume parameters were also determined. The results of the measurements were expressed in per cent of normal values. Our results reveal that simultaneous effects of the three factors examined had an influence on almost all the measured parameters. Smoking as a single factor influenced ITGV, TLC and, in borderline, FEF 25% FVC. Underground working time formed solely Raw, ITGV, RV and TLC. Age as a sole factor had an impact on many parameters (ITGV, RV, FEV1, FVC, PEF). The additional effect of smoking and underground working time makes this influence much more significant. Smoking and occupational exposure to dust generally lead to additive changes towards bronchitis--related airflow limitation in the population under study. The expiratory flow decrease and intrathoracic gas volume increase seem to be sensitive parameters to detect early effects due to the influence of smoking and dust exposure.